Control switch

ABSTRACT

A switch device characterized by an overcenter toggle structure mounted on an electrically insulating housing, in which housing separable contacts are mounted for movement between open and closed circuit positions, and a connecting member between the toggle structure and the movable contact which connecting member extends through an opening in the housing and is movable therein rectilinearly between the open and closed positions to the stationary contact.

United States Patent 1 Richards et al.

[ Feb. 18, 1975 CONTROL SWITCH [75] Inventors: Edward L. Richards,Aliquippa; Stephen S. Dobrosielski, Beaver,

both of Pa.

[73] Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Oct. 9, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 404,579

[52] US. Cl. 200/153 G, 200/337 [51] Int. Cl. 1101b 3/46 [58] Field ofSearch..... 200/153 G, 332, 337, 153 T [5 6] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,496,636 6/1924 Hilliard 200/153 G X 3,008,024 11/1961Roeser 200/153 T X 3,187,120 6/1965 Akst 200/153 G X 3,243,565 3/1966Sutton 200/337 X 3,569,655 3/1971 Jakubauskas. ZOO/337 X 3,649,7853/1972 Dietrich 200/47 Primary Examiner-R0bert K. Schaefer AssistantExaminerWilliam .1. Smith Attorney, Agent, or FirmL. P. Johns [57]ABSTRACT A switch device characterized by an overcenter toggle structuremounted on an electrically insulating housing, in which housingseparable contacts are mounted for movement between open and closedcircuit positions, and a connecting member between the toggle structureand the movable contact which connecting member extends through anopening in the housing and is movable therein rectilinearly between theopen and closed positions to the stationary contact.

11 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures CONTROL SWITCH CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATIONS As shown in FIG. 1 a manually operated switch is Theinvention is related to the invention disclosed in 5 generally indicatedat and it comprises a base or the application of Edward L. Richards andStephen S. Dobrosielski, Ser. No. 410,154, filed Oct. 26, 1973BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to a switch device and, more particularly, it pertains to atoggle-operated switch which provides for fast closing and opening ofcircuit contacts.

2. Description of the Prior Art I-Ieretofore, the overcenter togglemechanism has been used primarily for operating one or more contact armsof the clapper type, on each of which arms a single contact is mountedfor movement through an arc between open and closed positions with astationary contact. A disadvantage of that type of switch is thatintensity of an electric arc incurred during the opening of a circuit isconcentrated at each contact.

Associated with the foregoing has been the problem of impartingfast-acting movement to circuit breaker contacts in order to, amongother reasons, minimize the duration of the arc generated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention it has beenfound that the foregoing problems may be overcome by providing a switchdevice comprising an electrically insulating housing and an overcentertoggle structure mounted on the external surface of the housing, thehousing having an aperture therethrough, a plurality of sets of contactswithin the housing and comprising stationary contacts and movablecontacts between open and closed positions with the stationary contacts,a connecting member pivotally connecting the overcenter toggle structureto the set of movable contacts, the connecting member extending throughthe aperture in the housing and being slidably movable therein to effectrectilinear movement between the movable contacts and the stationarycontacts, the overcenter toggle structure comprising upper and lowerlinks and a laterally movable handle and the upper and lower links beingmovable through arcuate paths which movements are converted to therectilinear movement of the movable contacts by the connecting member.

The advantage of the switch device of this invention is that it combinesthe advantages of a double pole contactor and the overcentertoggle-mechanism of a circuit breaker to provide for a manually operatedcontrol switch in which the lateral movement of the handle to the offand on positions moves the contacts longitudinally with respect to eachother. The switch device is particularly adaptable to a miniaturizedthree-pole 600 volt manually operated motor control switch, because theovercenter toggle mechanism provides for fast closing and opening of thedouble circuit contact members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side view partly in sectionshowing the switch device of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 1.

electrically insulating housing 12 and a-manually operated over-centertoggle mechanism 14. The base or housing 12 is a box-like member havingopposite side and end walls as well as partitions having opposite sideand end walls as well as partitions 16 (FIG. 2) for separating thecontact areas of the three poles. The housing 12 also comprises a cover18 on which the toggle mechanism 14 is securely mounted. In turn, thecover 18 is secured by suitable means such as screws 20 at the cornersof the cover.

Terminals 22 and 24 are located at opposite ends of each polecompartment and include conductor portions 26 and 28 as well asstationary contacts 30 and 32. The assembly of the terminals, conductorportions, and stationary contacts for each pole constitute a stationarycontact structure.

A movable contact structure is located within the housing 12 andcomprises a crossbar 34 on which a plurality of, such as three, movablecontact carriers are mounted. Each carrier comprises a pair of movablecontacts 38 and 40 and are moved vertically, or rectilinearly, withrespect to the stationary contacts 30 and 32, respectively. Theparticular construction of the contact carrier 36 as well as the mannerin which the movable contacts are mounted is shown more particularly inUS. Pat. No. 3,727,157. Thus, the contact carrier 36 is movable betweenthe closed and open circuit positions such as shown by the solid andbroken line positions of FIG. 1. The assembly of the crossbar 34, thecontact carrier 36 and the contacts 38, 40 constitute the movablecontact structure which together with the stationary contact structureare contained within the housing 12.

In accordance with this invention the toggle mechanism is disposedexternally of the housing 12 and includes a pair of upright frames 42and 44 (FIG. 2), an overcenter toggle structure generally indicated at46, and a manual handle 48. Each frame 42, 44 comprises a base flange 50which is secured to the cover 18 by suitable means such as base screws52. Each frame 42, 44 comprises a V-shaped notch 54.

The overcenter toggle structure 46, being similar to overcenter togglestructure, such as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,263,042, comprises anoperating lever 56, a pair of toggle springs 58, a pair of closelyspaced latch plates 60,'upper toggle links 62, lower toggle links 64,and a connecting member 66. As shown in FIG. 2 the operating lever 56 isan inverted U-shaped member, the lower ends of which are seated at theapex of the V- shaped notches 54 at 66 (FIG. 1). The handle 48 ismounted on the upper portion of the latch plates 60 which are secured inplace between the frames 42, 44 and which provide pivotal support at 70for the upper ends of the upper toggle link 62. The lower ends of thelinks 62 are pivoted at 72 to the lower toggle links 64 which in turnare pivotally secured by pivot pins 74 to the connector member 68.

The toggle mechanism 14 operates in a manner similar to other overcentertoggle mechanisms, whereby it is movable from the closed circuitposition of the contacts 30, 32, 38, 40 to the open circuit position asindicated by the broken lines position 36a. Thus, when the handle 48 ismoved from the on position (FIG. 2) to the of position, the contactcarrier 36 moves to the open circuit position 36a.

In accordance with this invention the connector member 68 is preferablya rectangular member which extends through opening means such as arectangular opening 76 in the cover 18. Sufficient clearance between thewalls of the cover forming an opening 76 and the surfaces of theconnector member 68 is provided to enable sliding movement vertically ofthe member. However, the clearance between the members 68 and the wallsof the holes 76 are sufficiently small to enable said walls to serve asa guide means for the member; so that when the overcenter togglestructure 46 is moved to the off" position, the lower links 64 move tothe broken line position 64a (FIG. 1), thereby raising the connectormember 68 to the broken line position 680 and thereby lifting thecontact carrier 36 to the open circuit position 36a. As shown in FIG. 1,the connector member 68 includes a notch 78 ofinterlocking configurationsuch as a T-shape and the crossbar 34 includes a corresponding T-shapedmember 80 which is seated in the notch 78.

Accordingly, the switch device of this invention comprises an overcentertoggle mechanism the toggle links of which are movable in conventionalarcuate paths, which motions are converted to longitudinal orrectilinear motions of the connector member and the associated crossbar34.

What is claimed is:

l. A switch device comprising an electrically insulating housing havinghousing walls, at least one of the walls having an opening, a stationarycontact structure within the housing, a movable contact structure withinthe housing and being movable rectilinearly between open and closedpositions relative to the stationary contact structure, operatingmechanism for the movable contact structure external of the housing andcomprising an operating lever and a switch handle thereon for manuallymoving the operating lever, the operating mechanism also comprising anovercenter toggle operable by the operating lever to effect movement ofthe movable contact structure, a connecting member operatively connectedbetween the movable contact structure and the overcenter toggle, theconnecting member extending through said opening and comprising upperand lower toggle links and the lower toggle link being pivotallyconnected to the connecting member, the upper and lower toggle linksbeing movable arcuately, the overcenter toggle also comprising springmeans extending between the pivotal connection to the connecting memberand the lever adjacent to the switch handle.

2. The switch device of claim 1 in which the connecting member ispivotally connected at one end to the overcenter toggle.

3. The switch device of claim 1 in which the surfaces of the wallforming the opening providing guide means for the connecting member.

4. The switch device of claim 1 in which the pivotal connection betweenthe lower toggle link and the connecting member converts the arcuatemovement of the links to rectilinear movement of the connecting member.

5. The switch device ofclaim 4 in which the connecting member isslidably movable rectilinearly in the opening in response to actuationof the overcenter toggle.

6. A switch device comprising an electrically insulating housing and anovercenter toggle structure, said housing comprising walls forming achamber, a stationary contact structure within the housing, a movablecontact structure within the housing and movable rectilinearly betweenopen and closed positions relative to the stationary contact structure,the overcenter toggle structure being mounted externally on the housingand comprising a connecting member and a pair of links movable inarcuate paths and the connecting member being pivotally connected to oneof the links to effect movement of the member rectilinearly, theovercenter toggle structure also comprising spring means for biasing theovercenter toggle structure in positions corresponding to the open andclosed positions of the movable contact structure, the connecting memberbeing pivotally connected between the pair of links and the movablecontact structure, and opening means in the one wall communicating withthe chamber for guiding movement of the connecting member.

7. The switch device of claim 6 in which surfaces ofv the opening -meansare parallel to the direction of movement of the movable contactstructure.

8. The switch device of claim 7 in which the pair of links compriseupper and lower links operatively connected together for arcuatemovement, and the connecting member is movable in the opening means.

9. A switch device comprising an electrically insulating housing and anovercenter toggle structure on the housing, a plurality of sets ofcontacts within the housing and comprising stationary contacts andmovable contacts movable between open and closed positions with thestationary contacts, pivotal means for pivotally connecting theovercenter toggle structure to the set of movable contacts, the pivotalmeans comprising a connecting member, an opening in the housing, theconnecting member extending through the opening and being slidablymovable therein, the over-center toggle structure comprising upper andlower links and spring means, the lower link being pivotally connectedto the connecting member, the spring means being operatively connectedto the links for biasing the overcenter toggle structure in positionscorresponding to the open and closed positions of the movable contacts,and the overcenter toggle structure comprising a handle movablepivotallyto effect rectilinear movement of the contacts in the direction ofmovement of the movable contacts.

10. The switch device of claim 9 in which movable contacts are mountedon a crossbar, and in which the crossbar is mounted on the connectingmember and within the housing.

11. The switch device of claim 10 in which the crossbar movesrectilinearly with respect to the stationary contacts.

1. A switch device comprising an electrically insulating housing havinghousing walls, at least one of the walls having an opening, a stationarycontact structure within the housing, a movable contact structure withinthe housing and being movable rectilinearly between open and closedpositions relative to the stationary contact structure, operatingmechanism for the movable contact structure external of the housing andcomprising an operating lever and a switch handle thereon for manuallymoving the operating lever, the operating mechanism also comprising anovercenter toggle operable by the operating lever to effect movement ofthe movable contact structure, a connecting member operatively connectedbetween the movable contact structure and the overcenter toggle, theconnecting member extending through said opening and comprising upperand lower toggle links and the lower toggle link being pivotallyconnected to the connecting member, the upper and lower toggle linksbeing movable arcuately, the overcenter toggle also comprising springmeans extending between the pivotal connection to the connecting memberand the lever adjacent to the switch handle.
 2. The switch device ofclaim 1 in which the connecting member is pivotally connected at one endto the overcenter toggle.
 3. The switch device of claim 1 in which thesurfaces of the wall forming the opening providing guide means for theconnecting member.
 4. The switch device of claim 1 in which the pivotalconnection between the lower toggle link and the connecting memberconverts the arcuate movement of the links to rectilinear movement ofthe connecting member.
 5. The switch device of claim 4 in which theconnecting member is slidably movable rectilinearly in the opening inresponse to actuation of the overcenter toggle.
 6. A switch devicecomprising an electrically insulating housing and an overcenter togglestructure, said housing comprising walls forming a chamber, a stationarycontact structure within the housing, a movable contact structure withinthe housing and movable rectilinearly between open and closed positionsrelative to the stationary contact structure, the overcenter togglestructure being mounted externally on the housing and comprising a pairof links movable in arcuate paths and the connecting member beingpivotally connected to one of the links to effect movement of the memberrectilinearly, a connecting member, the overcenter toggle structure alsocomprising spring means for biasing the overcenter toggle structure inpositions corresponding to the open and closed positions of the movablecontact structure, the connecting member being pivotally connectedbetween the pair of links and the movable contact structure, and openingmeans in the one wall communicating with the chamber for guidingmovement of the connecting member.
 7. The switch device of claim 6 inwhich surfaces of the opening means are parallel to the direction ofmovement of the movable contact structure.
 8. The switch device Of claim7 in which the pair of links comprise upper and lower links operativelyconnected together for arcuate movement, and the connecting member ismovable in the opening means.
 9. A switch device comprising anelectrically insulating housing and an overcenter toggle structure onthe housing, a plurality of sets of contacts within the housing andcomprising stationary contacts and movable contacts movable between openand closed positions with the stationary contacts, pivotal means forpivotally connecting the overcenter toggle structure to the set ofmovable contacts, the pivotal means comprising a connecting member, anopening in the housing, the connecting member extending through theopening and being slidably movable therein, the over-center togglestructure comprising upper and lower links and spring means, the lowerlink being pivotally connected to the connecting member, the springmeans being operatively connected to the links for biasing theovercenter toggle structure in positions corresponding to the open andclosed positions of the movable contacts, and the overcenter togglestructure comprising a handle movable laterally to effect longitudinalmovement of the contacts in the direction of movement of the movablecontacts.
 10. The switch device of claim 9 in which movable contacts aremounted on a crossbar, and in which the crossbar is mounted on theconnecting member and within the housing.
 11. The switch device of claim10 in which the crossbar moves rectilinearly with respect to thestationary contacts.